=>S 635 
. Z9 
E5285 
Copy i 


A COUNTRY 
ROMANCE 

-BY- 

BLANCH T. ELY 












PRICE 25 CENTS 

. • • ,"" • v - r ‘ • * . V'-’ •' -’v. w' - . 

/ j y-~ .. 

Eldridge Entertainment House 

Franklin, Ohio and Denver, Colo. 

, 944 So. Logan Streot 





































Good Things To Keep The Ball Rolling 

A Bunch of Stunts for Hallowe’en 


A new book of doings, contributed by many wide¬ 
awake writers. Covers almost any kind rf festival, 
party or entertainment you wish to give. Drills, 
games, stunts, decorations, etc. Price 75c. 

Fairy and the Witch 

A 1-c.ct allegorical sketch for Hallowe’en, by A. D. 
Nelson. 1 adult, male or female, and any number of 
children. In this very picturesque little play, the 
Black Witch of Hallowe’en falls under the spell of 
the White Fairy and superstition gives way to rea¬ 
son. Time, about 20 minutes. Price, 25c. 

Frolic of the Witches 

By Juanita Mae Culp. This is a clever little drill es¬ 
pecially adapted for Hallowe’en. Introduces flash¬ 
lights and brooms, and is for 11 girls. Price, 25c. 

Guess Who Song and Drill 

Something novel. Price, 25c. 

The Haunted Gate 

By Edith Wormwood. A clever play for Hallowe’en. 
The capture of the ghosts furnishes a good climax to 
the play. 3 males, 7 females. Plays from 30 to 45 
minutes. Price, 35c. 

Jimmy’s Ghosts 

By Cecil J. Richmond. A sketch for children. Five 
speaking parts with chorus of witches. 'an easily be 
given in any school room. Price, 15c 

Scarecrows A-Roaming 

An eccentric drill. Price, 25c. 

What To Do on Hallowe’en 

Compiled by Juanita Mae Culp. This is a really good 
collection of helpful suggestions for this occasion. 
Suggestions for decorations, menus, parties, games, 
stunts, recipes, a play or two, and other good things. 
Purchasers will find themselves relieved from worry 
and trouble concerning Hallowe’en. Price, 40c. 

Fun With Fortune Telling 

Compiled by Mrs. G. L. Henson. Here is a book that 
will furnish fun and interest for any social gathering. 
Every one is interested in their “fortune” and this 
book is arranged to give you pleasure, either individ¬ 
ually or as a crowd. Price, 50c. 


Eldridge Entertainment House 

FRANKLIN, OHIO also DENVER, COLO. 

944 S. Logan St. 


The 


The 


















A Country Romance 


By BLANCHE T. ELY 


PRICE 25 CENTS 


Copyright 1922, Eldridge Entertainment House 



-PUBLISHED BY- 

ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE, 
Franklin, Ohio also Denver, Colo. 






SUGGESTIONS 


Any room with two doors at one end will do; one to 
be used as the kitchen door to the Smith home, the oth¬ 
er as the entrance and exit to the stage. Piano stools 
are used for Ford cars, one to be near the kitchen door 
and the other behind the scenes until the suitor appears. 
They are pushed by the drivers, the whirling top used 
as the steering wheel. Those taking part in the perform¬ 
ance are not to know anything about it until time for the 
play, but it is very necessary that the reader and one or 
two assistants have the play thoroughly in mind before 
hand. The reader steps to the side of the stage and the 
actors act the play as she reads. The assistants must 
have the actors arranged in the order of their appear¬ 
ance and see that their makeup is correct, and instruct 
them how to walk, etc. Mrs. Smith and Mary are in the 
kitchen. All others enter from the other door. 


4 c 

« € 

€ * C 
C 


^ DEC 30 m 

OciD {>3230 

2 


IMP96-007274 


MS j 




STAGE FURNISHINGS 


(Stage to be arranged before actors are chosen.) 

(Reader must arrange stage and explain to the aud¬ 
ience and actors.) 

( Curtains: Two people to stand at front of stage 
ivhen curtains are up and to get down on the knees when 
curtains are down—curtains down ivhile arranging the 
stage.) 

( Lights: Two people to come to front of stage ivhen 
lights are on and walk off when lights are off. Lights on 
to arrange stage.) 

(Two tall trees, two people to stand close together at 
one side of the stage, near entrance and exit.) 

(Bench: Two strong men or boys to kneel facing 
each other and make a saddle with their hands. Bench 
to be under the trees.) 

(Moon: a person who remains out of sight at oppo¬ 
site end of stage until moon comes up full, then he stands 
and makes arms in a circle above the head.) 

( Pump: A rather short person. One arm out like 
the pump handle, the other at the side, but hand stretched 
sidewise for the spout. A tin cup may be hung on the 
spout. Pump should be near the ktchen door and oppo¬ 
site the bench and trees.) 



3 



CHARACTERS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE 


Mary Smith, the girl, to be dressed in bungalow 
apron in Act I. In winter wraps and carrying a travel¬ 
ing bag in Act II. 

Rover, a man or boy, to walk on four feet. 

Pussy, a man or boy to walk on four feet. 

Biddy, woman or big grl, the old hen, to bend for¬ 
ward at hips as she walks. 

Her one Baby Chick, small woman or girl, the 
same as her mother. 

Old Rooster, man or boy, same as hen, puts hands 
in coat pockets and uses arms for wings. 

Gray Goose, same as rooster. 

Turkey Gobbler, same as rooster. 

Two Ducks, same as biddy but walk pigeon-toed 

John Smith, Jr., Mary’s small brother, trousers 
rolled up and hair standing on end. 

Will Jones, Mary’s suitor, on his fiery steed (a 
long stove poker or broom) dressed in overall suit and big 
straw hat. 

John Smith, Sr., Mary’s father, dressed as a farm¬ 
er. 

Pete Evans, a jealous suitor, with handkerchief 

tied over lower part of the face and a slouched hat. He 

/ 

may carry a toy pistol. 

Max Burg, the hero, a farmer lad, but well dressed. 

Nancy Smith, Mary’s mother, in kitchen apron. 

Time— Someone who walks across the stage holding 
up watch or alarm clock. 

Reader reads the following slowly and actors act as 
she reads : 


4 



A Country Romance 


Act One—Scene One. 

(Curtains up—lights off.) 

Mary comes out of the kitchen door with a bucket, 
goes to the pump to get water for supper. It is a hot 
day in June. She pumps a bucket of water and pours it 
out upon the ground. She doe^ this several times. As 
she pumps away, Rover comes up, so hot that his tongue 
is hanging out of his mouth and his breath coming in 
short pants. He begins to lap up some of the water 
that Mary has poured out, when pussy comes on the 
scene, but seeing the dog, humps up her back and spits, 
then Rover chases her out. The fowls hearing the com¬ 
motion come and drink, too. First comes Biddy with her 
one baby chick, carefully guarded bv the old rooster. 
They all drink, talking to each other in their own foolish 
way. 

Mary goes into the house and gets a saucer, comes 
back, fills it with water, sets it on the ground for the 
poultry. Then comes the old gray goose hisging to beat 
the band* and the turkey gobbler, gobbling and strutting 
as usual, followed by the two fat waddling ducks quack¬ 
ing away. They drink and wander away. The chickens, 
stopping to scratch now and then, for worms. The old 
rooster flaps his wings and crows. Up comes Junior 
looking very warm and tired. He pumps himself a drink, 
drinks part of it and throws the remainder over his sis¬ 
ter. She then throws water, a little at a time, from the 
bucket on him. Mother Smith comes to the door, sees 
what is happening, comes out, takes her son by the col¬ 
lar and marches him into the house. A sound like a 




6 


A Country Romance 


spanking (clapping of hands) is heard from within, fol¬ 
lowed by the screams and yells of Junior. Mary is 
about to go into the house and confess that she is partly 
to blame, when, looking across the field, she beholds her 
lover, Will Jones, approaching on a fiery steed. She waves 
her hand and he does the same, then dismounts and ties 
his horse to the nearest tree. She goes to meet him, 
and hand in hand they go to the pump where Will pumps 
himself a drink. Mary’s father appears, hat in hand, 
shakes hands with Will and as he is very hot and thirsty, 
too, pumps himself a drink. Mother comes to the door, 
rings the dinner bell (a hand bell) and they all go into 
the house and the fowls go to roost. Curtains down, 
lights on. 


★ 

Act One—Scene Two—Two hours later. 

Curtains up—lights off. 

Mary and Will come out of the kitchen door, go over 
and sit on the bench. The moon comes up with a smil¬ 
ing face. There is considerable spooning on the bench. 
Rover comes from around the house and lies down at 
their feet. They spoon some more. Rover runs off to 
bark at the moon, then comes back and lies down again. 
Mary and Will are entirely unmindful of the passing of 
time. (Time walks across the stage holding up a watch 
or alarm clock.) The rooster crows in the distance. 
Meanwhile, among the trees lurks a jealous lover, Pete 
Evans. He watches and listens, sneaks up behind the 
bench, pulls a revolver from his pocket, aims it at Will 
Jones and fires. Will falls at Mary’s feet. Rover chases 
the villain from the stage. Mary screams and father, 
mother and Junior come rushing from the house and car¬ 
ry him inside. Just then there is a rattle of wheels and 
in comes Max Burg in his Ford. He springs from the 
car and catches Mary in his arms as she faints away. 
Curtains down—lights on. 




A Country Romance 


7 


Act Two—Scene One. 

(Explanatory—No acting.) 

(Six months have intervened since the tragedy of 
Act One. Will Jones was mortally wounded |. It seemed 
almost too terrible for Mary to bear, and at first it was 
thought she would not survive, but Max Burg began to 
call and inquire as to her welfare and soon was coming 
oftener and oftener, until exactly six months later they 
were to be married. Father and Mother Smith were un¬ 
willing because they thought Mary should wait at least 
a year, so an elopement has been planned.) 

Curtains up—lights off. 

On the night of December 21st, at midnight, Max 
Burg drives slowly past and stops on the corner. Mary, 
all ready, is watching for him from the window or door, 
steals stealthily out, bag in hand. Max takes her bag 
helps her into the car and they start off. Rover comes 
out and barks so loud that he awakes father, who rushes 
to the door and sees what is happening, rushes out, 
cranks his Ford, gets in and goes after them, {they chase 
aromid the stage and off ) but returns in the course of 
an hour, having given up the chase. He leaves the 
Ford in the yard and goes into the house. Curtains 
down, lights on. 

A lapse of several hours. 

Curtains up, lights out. 

At nine o’clock the next morning, Max Burg and 
Mary drive up in the car. They have been happily mar¬ 
ried. Father, Mother, Junior and Rover and even the 
cat come out to welcome them. They make up in the 
usual way and live happily ever after. Curtains down— 
lights on. 





MONOLOGS 

By SEYMOUR S. TIBBALS 

TITHIS series of character monologs has provided 
something funny, yet clean and wholesome, for 
the boy or man who wants a specialty along the 
lines of the professional monolog. They are espec¬ 
ially adapted for the olio of a minstrel show or as 
an individual number on a vaudeville program. 


Have You Ever Noticed That? A tramp 

monolog. 

Izzy’s Troubles. For a Hebrew character. 

Waiting for the Alabama Lou. A darkey 

talking act ; the speaker being a stranded 
minstrel. 

Bl* Keerful Si. A Rube monolog. 

As Oi Wuz Sayin 5 . For an Irish character. 

Under the Pretzel Brough. Dutch monolog. 

PRICE 15 CENTS EACH. 


TWO PATRIOTIC MONOLOGS 


The Stars and Stripes in Flanders. 

A dramatic reading with a climax that 
will cause a thrill. Price, 25 cents. 

When Monty Came Home from the 
Marne. 

Suitable for any reader and a number that 
will be welcome on any program. Price 
25 cents. 


ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE 

FRANKLIN, OHIO, also 944 S. Logan, DENVER, COLO. 












USE THESE ON ANY SCHOOL PROGRAM 


TUNEFUL OPENING 
AND CLOSING SONGS 

PRICE 35 CENTS EACH 

You’re Welcome If You Keep Right 
Still. 

If We Were You and You Were Us. 

We’ll Try to Make You Come Again. 

It’s Very Clear Your Welcome Here. 

Hello, Everybody—Glad to See You 
Here. 

With a Tear In One Eye, We Will 
Tell You Goodbye. 

It’s Time to Tell You All Goodbye. 


THESE WILL MAKE YOUR 
WHOLE ENTERTAINMENT 
EVEN MORE SUCCESSFUL 

ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE 


FRANKLIN, OHIO also 944 S. Logan, DENVER, COLO. 


























LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



0 016 215 149 6 


RELEASED FOR AMATEUR PRODUCTION. 



n l # a # • ?? 

fohtaan 


By SEYMOUR S. TIBBALS 


» 

JH 


COMEDY /A/ FOUR ACTS 

SEVEN MALES AND THREE FEMALES 


/ £|f > HIS play was produced professionally 
for several seasons under another title, 

and is now released for amateur production 
without royalty and without restrictions 
of any kind. The scenery and costumes 
are simple. Time, about two hours. A 
young society girl plays an important part 
in overthrowing a corrupt political boss 
and brings about the election of her 
fiance. The race for the hand of a 
wealthy widow by rival suitors furnishes 
the comedy. A pretty story is unfolded, 
but without actual love-making or any 
scenes objectionable to the amateur. 
Recommended for high schools and dra¬ 
matic clubs. 

If^'The garden party in the second act affords 
opportunity for the introduction cf any number of 
characters. 

PRICE, 2.” CENTS 

Sent Postpaid on Receipt of Price by the 

EDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE 

Franklin, Ohio 


• > 










































